294 Transactions.- — Zoology. 



out of reach of the sea, is generally taken possession of. On the 

 other hand, nests are occasionally found a couple of hundred feet 

 above the water, but only, I think, when suitable places cannot 

 be found at a lower level. On one occasion I witnessed a 

 fight between this penguin and a Procellaria gouldi about a 

 burrow. Leaving them to settle the question, and visiting the 

 spot again a few days later, I found the penguin dead outside 

 the burrow, and the Procellaria in possession. 



The old burrows are used again year after year, but are in- 

 variably renovated and extended, and I am of opinion that the 

 same birds return to the old nest if they were left undisturbed 

 previous to and during the time of incubation. If the eggs are 

 removed, or the old birds disturbed, the burrow is deserted, 

 and generally remains without a tenant for that breeding- 

 season ; and this applies to all the petrels mentioned above. 

 The penguin, on the other hand, does not readily leave its 

 nest or burrow, for I have seen the bird laying a third time in 

 the nest from which I had on two previous occasions removed 

 the eggs when the bird was absent. In the case of the petrels, 

 the laying-season varies from a week to a fortnight during 

 different years. A dry winter is followed by early laying, but 

 a wet winter retards the burrowing, and consequently also the 

 laying, for the birds are unable to "back out " the loosened 

 earth if wet. The laying-times given above must therefore be 

 taken as applying to a dry winter and spring. 



I am informed that punishment, such as a tap on the head 

 and confiscation of the offender's birds, was in the olden time 

 inflicted by the chief of the hapu then residing on Mokohinou 

 on such of his people who, accidentally or wilfully, broke the 

 holes whilst collecting the young oii. The killing of an old 

 l)ird was considered a still more serious offence. 



Before concluding my notes on the birds I will give a list 

 of such introduced species as have come under my notice : — 



Birds introduced by European Settlers. 



Sparrow : Breeds on the lighthouse island. 



Goldfinch : Gradually-increasing numbers visit yearly in 

 June. This year (1888) I saw a dozen which remained for 

 three weeks. 



Yellowhammer : Visits occasionally in small flocks. 



Skylark : One or two pairs remain at the island. 



Quail (Australian) : One or two visit occasionally. 



